13/05 - 19/05: Tour of California

[Anderis]

It's scary that such a young rider can win a GC-relevant stage at WT level with such a huge advantage, even if the field is not as strong as in some other races.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Dude is probably winning 8 tours, 6 giri and 7 vuelta's

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

The greatest 21 year old since Andy Schleck?

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Re:

The greatest 21 year old since Andy Schleck?

Well somebody posted about Sagan as 21 year old, that was pretty impressive as well.

 

[Red Rick]

Re:

Dude is probably winning 8 tours, 6 giri and 7 vuelta's

Not sure if serious or sarcastic

 

[Cance > TheRest]

Re:

It's scary that such a young rider can win a GC-relevant stage at WT level with such a huge advantage, even if the field is not as strong as in some other races.

Doesn't it say something about the field in California rather than just about Bernal? Honestly, I think Bernal was more impressive in Romandie. Come to think of it, Bernal only did what people expected of him here in California, and those expectations were caused by his Romandie performance

 

[Frankschleck]

Re: Re:

The greatest 21 year old since Andy Schleck?

Well somebody posted about Sagan as 21 year old, that was pretty impressive as well.

I think he is better. I am already tired of Egan Bernal, but i can't think of an as big talent in the last 15- 20 years. Sagan and Schelck might come near, but this guy is a monster.

 

[AlexNYC]

Egan is an awesome talent, but I‘m afraid he’s already being overhyped in this forum. As someone else said above, where I was really astounded was after he won the MTT at Romandie. He was already a favorite to win in California, so I think what has impressed me the most this time is his attacking style. He doesn’t f*** around when he thinks he can win. He won Oro y Paz in the same way, and if not for Roglic, would’ve won Romandie very similarly. But the overhyping is never good, which makes me feel relieved he didn’t do that great in the ITT.

 

[Bolder]

Expectations are a burden. There are, frankly, lots of great climbing talents who never pan out into GT winners. Outside of Quintana we haven't had a pure climber win a GT in a while. You need to TT and be able to handle the intermediate stages to avoid being surprised. Not that Bernal isn't pretty astonishing, of course -- he absolutely is.

 

[SHAD0W93]

Come on Cav you can do it!

 

[May0maniac]

Re:

I guess a resurrection of the old adage "feel the Bern" might be appropriate.......

cause they sure done felt it

Austria was already feeling the Bern back in 2008, before it was cool.

 

[Koronin]

As for Yates, you all do remember this is his first race back after a serious injury in which he was off his bike for a few weeks. Truthfully I actually don't think what he's done here is that impressive. He's going to be a just back from injury Adam Yates, Tejay who isn't the best of climbers, Mijka who well couldn't win California last year, Daniel Martinez (?) (anyone have him as a favorite before this race started), and Brandon McNutty, who races for a Pro Conti team. Not exactly an impressive GC field. He was more impressive winning at Romandie and truthfully more impressive in 2nd in GC at Catalonia.

 

[DNP-Old]

Re:

As for Yates, you all do remember this is his first race back after a serious injury in which he was off his bike for a few weeks. Truthfully I actually don't think what he's done here is that impressive. He's going to be a just back from injury Adam Yates, Tejay who isn't the best of climbers, Mijka who well couldn't win California last year, Daniel Martinez (?) (anyone have him as a favorite before this race started), and Brandon McNutty, who races for a Pro Conti team. Not exactly an impressive GC field. He was more impressive winning at Romandie and truthfully more impressive in 2nd in GC at Catalonia.

Yes!

Egan's ITT the most intriguing thing for this race, to me. We finally get so see what his work in the windtunnel and his new position is worth against somewhat representative level. I'm also backing Dani Martinez to finish podium here. Having a great year.

 

[Escarabajo]

Daniel Martinez has been riding really good this year. I expected a lot from him. Especially in this race.

 

[Koronin]

Ok guys, however, he's still not the same competition Bernal has raced against in a few other races this year.

 

[Rollthedice]

That was... Gaviria.

 

[DNP-Old]

Nando!

 

[DNP-Old]

Tour de Colombia this turned out to be.

 

[Rollthedice]

How many QS wins this year?

 

[Koronin]

Wow. That was definitely Gaviria. That was a nice sprint.

 

[tobydawq]

Nice bike throw by Gaviria. And seven days without a crash for him. Or Cavendish. Insane stuff.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Lmao, total domination by the two biggest talents in cycling. Nice stuff by Bernal and Gaviria.

 

[DNP-Old]

 

[DNP-Old]

Egan is now the youngest ever winner of a UCI Pro or World Tour race.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Wow, that would have been a massive win for Walscheid.
Bernal was imperial but Martinez impressed me even more. I expected him to be among the best climbers but that TT performance was something else.